Cigar lighter



NOV. 17, 1936. 'P E ASHTON 2,060,783

CIGAR LIGHTER Filed oct. s, l1954 2 sheetssheet 1 40 i I v .y f l INVENTOR Nov. 17, 1936. P. E. ASHTON CIGAR LIGHTER Filed ont. 8, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet y2 VENTOR E w m Patented Novu 17, 1936# .Unirse s'rArEs CIGAR LIGHTER Philip E. Ashton, Meriden, Conn., assignor to The Cono Engineering Corporation, Meriden, Conn.,

a corporation of Connecticut application october s, 1934, senators. 747,37?

is invention relates to electric cigar lighters, especially those of the cordless type, and has for its object to provide a simple and inexpensive device of this class having few parts.

Another object is to provide such a device in which the spring for opening the heater' circuit is carried by the removable member in a manner to be protected from the heater. n

' A further object is to provide a simple thermostatic control for such a device, which is adapted to open the circuit and permit at least a sub; stantial part of the removable member to slide longitudinally of the stationary mounting member. I 3

Referring tol the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through one embodiment of this invention with the circuit open.

Fig. 2 is another longitudinal section through a slightly modified construction showing the circuit closed.

Fig. 3 is a top pla-n view of the deviceof Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line II-t of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5' is an exploded view showing the parts comprising the removable member.

` Fig. 6 is a longitudinal view partly in section showing the device of this invention controlled by a thermostat.

Fig. '7 is a longitudinal section of another modi cation of this invention. l

Fig. 8 shows the arcuate spring used in Fig. I.

Fig. 9 shows a preferred construction `for mounting the center contactin the socket without the use of the large washer 'of insulating material.

The stationary socket member I carries the plug II which is largely of insulating material.7 The socket'is secured to the dashboard I2 of an automobile or elsewhere in any convenient manner s'uch for example as by providing the socket with a front-flange I3 adapted to engage the front of the panel I2 and any convenient means forv clamping the front flange lagainst the panel. For purposes of illustration this securing means ccmprises a plate I which is contiguous a plurality of abutments I4 formed by stamped out lugs integral with the metal socket, such abutments It being preferably two or three in number and being substantially equi-distantly spaced angularly. vAs 'shown in my copending application Serial Number 747,376 filed Octoberjiith, 1934, the plate I5 has preferably three lugs engaging the rear of the panel I2, at least one of these lugs being adjustable and the adjustable lug is shown as being constituted by the screw I6 Aso that on tight-Il ening the screw the socket is held with its iront -iiange clampedy against the front of the panel I2, Some convenient and customary form of central contact is mounted within the base of the socket supplied with current through the insulated con-1 ductor I'I to a rivet IS which holds the center Conisolaims. (ci. 21e-aai tact I8 in position. Unlike the usual center contacts the one of this invention is shown. in Fig. 4 as being comprised of two opposite prongs which are slightly yieldable and engage the outer edge of the resistance element 'housing ring. There are also provided a pair of oppositely spaced contact prongs 2l which are less yieldable than those numbered 20, the latter being substantially rigid.

Some convenient means may be provided for positioning the center contact Within the socket, such as the stamped bead 22 which engages the insulating disc 23 to hold the same Within the socket base. The disc 23 is preferablyr of fphenolite or other appropriate electrical and thermal insulating material. The center contact I8 is secured to the insulating disc 23 and thereby centrally positioned in the socket.

The center contact is substantially dished as is customary but instead of the base of this center contact i8 being all of'it contiguous the insulating disc 23, it has been foundvdesirable to have the base of this center contact I8 stepped as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 so that only a small central portion of the base is contiguous the insulating disc while a substantial portion 25.01' the bottom is stepped or offset from the insulating disc in order to provide` space for the passage of cooling currents of air which pass substantially transversely through the large perforations 26 in the socket around the heater and center contact. A mica Washer 24 has been mounted between the insulating disc 23 and the center contact I8, as such has been found desirable where the insulating disc 23 may not be a good thermal insulator.

There are preferably two or three or imore largel size Derforations 26 to allow the air currents to v enter and pass through and around the socket for cooling purposes. l

Some usual type of resistance element 21 is provided in spiral form one end of which is pref-e erably welded to the rim 4of the housing 28. The other end ofthe heating coil 2,1 is secured in the rivet 29 by clamping or in some other usual manner. heater supporting tube 3| and as illustrated the housing 28 is. insulated from the rivet and tube ing, as is usual.

Where desired the insulating Washers and the vertical wall ofthe housing-28 may be provided with perforations 30 of a substantially large amv The rivet i!!! carries the current to thel 3I by the insulating washers and the central bush.-

thefheater when it has become hot enough to glow'- f The 4supporting tube or annular member 3l is made slidable within the contact ring or annular or tubular member 32 and thisglatter ring is illustrated as being threaded to the inside of the insulating material constituting the main body portion oi' the plug or tubular'member 11. vWhere the outer surface of the housing rim 28 is knurled as shown in Figs. 3 and 5 for example to facilitate unscrewing the heater supporting tube 3i and the ring 32 from the body of insulating material, it will be understood tlfat the tube 3| isl preferably splined to the ring 32 by means of a stamped longitudinal rib and recess, in order to prevent the tube 3l from turning within the contact ring 32 yet permitting the one to shift longitudinally with respect to the other.

Within the plug is shown a coaxial helical spring 34 cooperating at one end with a shoulder formed in-the tubular body member of insulating material and at its other end with the enlarged rim or radial flange on the tube 3i so that the spring 34 normally tends to push the' heater and its support 3| away from the handle end of the plug.

- To electrically and thermally insulate the spring 34 from the supporting tube 3i a mica washer 33 is preferably placed around the end of the tube 3l in order to prevent thetransfer of any dangerous amount of heat to the spring 34.

In accordance with; the usual practice the front of the bore through the plug may be closed by an ornamental piece of colored glassf35 which may also be translucent. 'Ihis glass 35 is held in place by -a ferrule 36 of the one piece construction illustrated or of the two piece construction as shown by my copending application previously referred to. The usual finger groove 31 is provided to assist in holding the removable plug member.

` For closing the circuit the socket I3 is provided with inwardly bent lugs or abutment contacts 38 adapted to engage the surface of the contact ring 32 which is toward the heater.

In operation the device of Fig. l is normally held in the open circuit position illustrated with the heater cup 28 in contact with the central socket contact I3. Y On pushing in the main body portion of the plug against the action of the spring 34 the spring is compressed and the contact ring 32 slid along the socket member until it engages the abutment contacts 38 to close the circuit through the heater element.

Upon removal of the pressure the spring pushes the main body portion of the plug away from the abutment contacts to open the circuit, should the plug not be pulled out for lighting a cigar or cigarette. There are preferably two or three or more abutment lugs 38 which contact with the ring 32 in closing the circuit.

In compressing the spring and moving the main body of the plug inwardly the yieldable portions 20 of the center contact may allow limited movement of the heater element until the nonyieldable portions 2i are engaged. It is not necessary that any portion of the center contact i8 be yieldable in the device illustrated in Fig. 1 and the heater may be held4 normally in engagement with the center contact by some convenient type of friction device between the plug and socket.

While any well known construction for such friction device common in socket devices in any art may be used, nevertheless in Fig. 3 has been shown an improved type of Vbent friction tongue which is adapted to engage the surface of the plug and hold theplug Within the socket. The ordinarv friction tongues having parallel sides 2,060,788 have not been found to be stm enough without 'viding a stiii'er and more serviceable friction device comprised of a tongue 38 whose sides diverge away from'the tip so that the base of the tongue is wider and of more metal than any other portion and therefore the bending necessary in `the tongue 38 will not be localized at the base but will be distributed throughout the tongue.

Another factor contributing to the greater serviceability of the friction device illustrated in Fig. 3 is due tothe fact that the-socket Ilia rounded and therefore the base oi the tongue is arcuate in cross section which is equivalent to thickening the tongue a greater amount at the base than at the tip and due to the'curvature of the tongue this equivalent thickness so far as bending occurs is reduced toward the tip since the angular extent of the tongue circumferentlally oi the socket is gradually less toward the tip of the tongue. As shown in Fig. 1 the tip of the tongue 39 is slightly turned up as well as being bent down to smoothly engage the plug surface and avoid catching on the rear edge of the plug.

In Fig. 2 the construction is the same as that in Fig. 1 except in regard to the type of friction device used and in regard to the shape of the finger gripping portion of the plug. Instead of having the finger gripping channel 31 of the shape illustrated in Fig. 1, it will be seen that in Fig. 2 this channel is deeper and is formed in a separate piece of insulating material 43 which is screwed on to the main-body insulating portion of the plug.

'I'he separate handle portion 48 may also be fof metal if desired, or of some one of the numerous translucent or opaque insulating matenals. As shown and described in my aforementioned application, an arcuate spring 4i normally presses a button 42 into engagement with the socket HI for frictionally retaining the plug in position. 'Ihe rest of the plug is the same as that Ashown in Fig. 1, as is -also the socket, the only diiference being that the plug is shown in a circuit closing position in Fig. 2 with the contact ring 32n in engagement with the ground abutments 33. It will be understood that instead of the friction means 42, some other form of commonly used friction device from any art may be substituted.

It is thought the exploded view of Fig. 5 needs no additional description in view of the foregoing remarks.

In Fig. 6 the plug and socket members are similar to those in either Figs. 1 or 2 with the addition of a thermostatically controlled latch 44 on the socket member for engagement with a peripheral groove 45 in the plug member when the plug is in a closed circuit position with the contact ring 32 engaging a slightly yieldable ground abutment 43 instead of the somewhat rigid abutments 38. On pushing in the plug to a closed circuit position the ring 32 engages the ground connection 43, the closed circuit position being as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6.

. The thermostatic latch 44 of bimetalllc strip material is securedat the rear end of the socket by a rivet or in other convenient manner and is so shaped as to normally tend to slip into the groove 45 under its own resiliency. 'I'he socket 75 I being provided with the large perforations 2B makes it possible for the air heated by the resistance element -2'| to rise through the socket upper wall and come in contact with the thermostatic element 44. As this strip .is heated to a predetermined amount it then snaps out of the groove 45, allowing the hook end of the latch to be released from engagement with the plug whereby the spring 34 in the plug pushes the main body portion of the plug outwardly opening the circuit between the ground contact 43 and the ring 32. An advantage of such a ther- 'mostatcontrol is the elimination of the necessity for the operator holding the plug member pressed in during the time the resistance element is heating up.

While this time is relatively short, nevertheless the use of the thermostat control also gives uniformity in heating and makes it possible for an operator to get'the same degree of heat in the plug each time it is pulled out, where the operator waits until the thermostatic latch opens the circuit before withdrawing the plug. I]

There is enough snap action resulting from the opening of the thermostatic latch to constitute a visual and audible signal that the plug is ready to be withdrawn for lighting, the audible signal being due to the release and snapl movement of the latch and plug and the visual signal being due to the outward movement of the main body portion of the plug rather than to the transfer of any light from the incandescent heater through the fairly longfbody of the plug, in daylight and where as usual the driver or operator sits to one sideof the cigar lighter.

In Fig. 'I is shown a slightly modified construction in which the spring 34a is considerably longer and connects the inner end of the supporting tubular member 3| at 'one end and an abutment 48 in the tubular member at the other end of the spring. Where the spring would 'otherwise be in contact with the tubular metal ring' 3|, it is desirable to provide an insulating washer of mica or other insulating material to prevent heat transfer to the spring 34a, `In this embodiment the'ground abutments of Figs. 1, 2 and 6 have been eliminated and instead the ground contact is formed through a metal button 49 which is pressed by the arcuate spring 4Ia into engagement with thel socket member for frictionally retaining the plug within the socket. On pushing the plugmember inward the inner end portion of the supporting ring 3| contacts with the side of the .arcuate spring 4Ia to close the circuit. Instead of having the ring 3| en- .gage the spring 4|a on its thin edge where the same` is fairly rigid, it will be found more desir-` that the mica washer 5I) is located within the dished or cupped portion of the steel washer 5| to insulate the lighting terminal from the socket member. The mica washer 52 .on the front of the steel washer 5| also insulates the center .contact from the steel washer and socket on the frontside. The steel washer is held in' position When the heater is left in a circuit closed or on position there is danger of the phenolite washer 23 being affected by the heat and for this reason the construction of Fig. 9 is preferred for all of the foregoing modifications including the thermostatically controlled construction.

' The main body portion of the plug may be of a phenolic condensation product or other suitable insulating material.

The large perforations 26 in the socket are at least two in number and preferably located on diametrically opposite sides, namely the top and bottom of the socket where convenient, in order to allow cooling currents of air to be passed substantially transversely through the socket, although when this is not convenient, the number of such large perforations 26 may beincreased to three or more. l

The contact ring 32 is preferably located radially inward from the surface of the plug so as to be well out of contact with the socket when the main body portion of the plug is in an off position with the circuit open. This contact ring 32 and the heater supporting tube 3| need not necessarily be splined, especially where the flange of the ring 32 which contacts with the ground abutments 38 is made thick enough or wide enough longitudinally to permit of having the periphery of this flange knurled instead of that of the heater housing.

The groove 45 in the plug is preferably provided with a metal wear resisting ring in its vertical wall which is engaged by the hook 46 of the thermostatic latch 44. It will be understood that when the spring pushes the main body portion of the plug outwardly to an open circuit position that the heater'preferably remains in contact with the center terminal |8 of the socket.

The construction shown in Fig. 9 is of advantage in providing good dissipation of heat transferred to the center contact I8 from the heater.

' From Figs. l and '7 it will be apparent that said contact being dished toward the heater to receive the heater rim within'at least a portion of its outwardly inclined edges, a rivet securing said contact to said washer on which it is mounted, the bottom'of said` contact being stepped to space a substantial part of the bottom of saidk contact from the washer to allow cooling air currents to pass between-the washer and spaced part of the bottom of said contacts, said tube being provided with perfor-ations to allow the passage of air currents through the tube and around said contact.

2. A cigar lighter comprising a stationary member, a removable member, a heater on the y removable member, saidstationary member comprising a metal tube having a contact therein insulated from the tube and'mounted on a washer,

said contact being dished toward the heater to receive the heater rim within at least va portion of its outwardly linclined edges, a rivet securing ate socket contact, a spring within said plug cosaid contact to said washer on which it is mounted, the bottom of said contact being stepped to space a substantial part oi' the bottom cf said contact from the washer to allow cooling currents of air to pass between the washer and spaced part of the bottom of said Contact, said tube being provided with perfor-ations to allow the passage of air currents through the tube and around said contact, the edge portion of said contact being notched to provide spaced pairs of contacting portions, one of said pairs being at least slightly yieldable and the other of said pairs being less yieldable.A l

3. A cigar lighter comprising socket and plug members, one of which is stationary and the other removable, a heater on the removable member, means for frictionally maintaining the plug and socket members engaged, at least one of said members being of metal, said friction means comprising a tongue stamped out of the metal member for cooperation with the surface of the other member along which said relative movement between the members occurs, and the sides of said tongue diverging from its tip to stiifen the tongue, and the surface of the metal member containing the tongue being rounded whereby at least the base of the tongue is also rounded and is o! greater angular extent than its tip to additionally stillen the tongue.

4. A cigar lighter comprising a socket and removable plug, said socket having a pair of contacts, one in the base and the other located intermediate the base and the outer end of the socket, said plug including a handle portion anda heater unit, said heater unit including a circular contact member engaging the base contact of the socket and surrounding a heated member which is adapted to be brought to incandescence, longitudinally extending walls attached to said contact member and projecting on the side thereof opposite said heated member, a ring slidable on said longitudinally extending walls, said ring being adapted for engagement with the intermediate socket contact, a spring within said plug cooperating with the body of the plug and with said longitudinally extending walls, a friction device for holding the plug within the socket, the circuit through said heated member being closed on distortion of the spring dueto the plug being moved inwardly, withl the contact member held against movement by the base contact of the socket, for engagement between said ring and intermediate socket contact.

5. A cigar lighter comprising a socket and removable plug, said socket having a pair of contacts, one in the base and the other located intermediate the base and the outer end of the socket, said plug including a handle portion and a heater unit, said heater unit including a contact member engaging the base contact of the socket l and surrounding a heated member which is adapted to be\ brought to incandescence, longitudinally extending walls attached to said contact member and projecting on the side thereof opposite said heated member, a ring slidable on said longitudinally extending walls, said ring be.. ing adapted for engagement with the intermedioperating with the body of the plug and with said longitudinally extending walls, the circuit through the heated member being closed by engagement between said ring and intermediate socket contact in advance of iull distortion of said spring so that no more than the pressure due to said spring may ever be applied to the base contact of the socket.

6. A cigar lighter comprising a socket and removable plug member, said socket having a contact in the base and another projecting radially inward intermediate the base and front end of the socket, said plug including a body of insulating material, a handle portion and a heater unit, said heater unit having a contact member for engagement with the base contact of said socket. a

heated member adapted to be brought to incandescencelwithin said contact member. an annular member secured to the insulating body of said plug, another annular member slidable within the iirst mentioned annular member, clamping means extending through said contact member and at least one of said annular members for securing them together, one of said annular members being adapted to engage the intermediate socket contact, and a spring between said annular members adapted to normally maintain the circuit through the heated member open and at least one of the socket contacts disengaged from its cooperative plug contact, the circuit through said heated member being closed on inward movement of the plug within the socket and distortion of said spring held against the plug contact member engaging the base contact of the socket and the annular member engaging said intermediate socket contact.

'1. As an article of manufacture a removable plug member, adapted to be inserted and supported in a socket having a contact in the base and another projecting inward intermediate the base and front end of the socket, said plug including a body of insulating material, a handle portion and a heater unit, said heater unit having a cup-shaped member for engagement with the base contact of said socket, a resistance wire adapted to be brought to incandescence within said cup-shaped member. an annular member secured to the insulating body of said plug, another annular member slidable within the iirst mentioned annular member, clamping means extending through said cup-shaped member and at least one of said annular members for securing them together, one of said annular members being adapted to engage the intermediate socket contact, and a spring between said annular members adapted to normally maintain the circuit through the resistance wire open and at least one of the socket contacts disengaged from its cooperative plug contact, the circuit through said resistance wire being closed on inward movement oi' the plug within the socket and distortion of said spring held indirectly against one oi' the socket contacts, and one of said annular members being provided with a longitudinal rib for engagement with the other annular member.

8. A plug member for a cigar lighter adapted to be inserted in a socket having a contact in the base and another projecting inward intermediate the base and front end of the socket, said plug including'a body of insulating material, a handle portion and a heater unit, said heater unit having a circular contact member ior engagement with the base contact of said socket, a heated member adapted to be brought to incandescence within said contact member, an annular member secured to the insulating body of said plug, another annular member slidable within the first mentioned annular member, clamping means ex tending through said contact member and at least one of said annular members for securing them together, one of said annular members being of said annular members being adapted to enadapted to engage the intermediate socket con'- tact, and a spring between said annular members adapted to normally maintain the circuit through the heated member open and the projecting socket contact disengaged from its cooperative plug contact, the circuit through said heated member beingv closed on inward Vmovement of the plug within the socket and distortion of said spring held indirectly Aagainst one of the socket contacts, said spring being electrically and thermally insulated at each of its ends from all other electrically conductive and heated elements.

9. A cigar lighterplug member adapted to be inserted in a socket having a contact in the base and another projecting inward intermediate the base and frori't end of the socket, said plug including a body of insulating material,l a handle portion and a heater unit, said heater unit having a circular contact member for engagement with the base contact of said socket, a heated member adapted tobe brought to incandescence within said contact member, an annular member secured to the insulating body of said plug, another annular member slidable Within the iirst mentioned annular member, clamping means extending through said contact member and at least one of said annular members for securing them together, one of said annular members being adapted to engage the intermediate socket contact, and a spring between said annular members adapted to normally maintain the circuit through the heated member open and at least one of the socket contacts disengaged from its cooperative plug contact,- the circuit through said heated member bev ing closed on inward movement of the plu'g` within the socket anddistortion of said spring held in-v directly against one of the socket contacts, one of said annular members being provided with a longitudinal rib for engagement with the other ansocket, a coil of resistance wire adapted to be brought to incandescence within said cup-shaped member, an annular member secured to the insulating body of said plug, another annular member slidable: within the rst mentioned annular member, clamping means extending through'said cup-shaped member and at least vone of said annular members for securing them together, one

gage the intermediate socket contact, and a spring between said annular members adapted to normally maintain the circuit through the resistance wire open and at least one of the socket contacts disengaged from its cooperative Dplug contact, the circuit through said resistance wire being closed on inward movement of the plug within the socket and distortion of said spring against one of the socket contacts, the base contact of the socket being at least slightly yieldable `and the intermediate socket contact being substantially rigid and shaped for butt engagementL with `an annular member of the plug.

11. A cigar lighter comprising a stationary- :ary member, one in thebase and the other intermediate the base and the 'outer end thereof,

said removable member being slidable along the stationary member and having a pair of contacts inV rear of the insulating body of .said removable adapted to be distorted when the removable 'member is moved inwardly along said stationary memberto close the circuit through a heater carried by the removable member, said spring being adapted on release of pressure holding said removable member to slide the body of the removable member outwardly and separate the intermediate contact of the stationary member from its cooperative contact on the removable member by spring pressure exerted through the contact of the removable member which cooperates with the contact in the base of the stationary member as an abutment.

12. A cigar lighter comprising a stationary member, a removable member, a pair of contacts in said stationary member, one in the base and the other intermediate the base and the other end of -`the stationary member, said removable member being adapted to be slid along said stationary member to close a circuit through a pair of contacts carried by the removable member at the rear end portion thereof, one of said removable member contacts being at its inner end portion, an annular member secured tothe body of said removable member, another annular member slidable within the first annular member, one of said annular members constituting another contact for said removable member and being adapted for engagement with the intermediate contact of said stationary member, clamping means passing through said end contact member and the second mentioned annular member for securing said end contact member and both of said annular members together as a unit, a spring between said annular members adapted to be distorted when said removable member is moved along .th stationary member by engagement between a contact ofthe removable member and one of the contacts of the stationary member as an abutment, a heated member carried within the end contact member, the spring being adapted on release .of pressure upon the removable member to slide said removable member forwardly and separate the contact of the stationary member which does not `act as an abutment from its cooperative contact on the removable member.-

13. A cigar lighter plug member adapted to be inserted in a socket having contacts, one in the base of the socket, said plug including a body of insulating material, a handle, and a heater unit on the rear end portion of the plug for cooperation with the socket contacts, contacts carried by said plug and a combined friction device and current conductor carried by the plug holding the plug in engagement with at least one of the socket contacts, said friction device including a spring within the body of the plug and a button extending through the body of the plug and pressed outward by the spring into cooperation' with the inner surface of the socket.

14. A heating unit for a cigar lighter comprising a circular contact member, a heated member supported therein, a tubular member substantially coaxially secured to said circular contact member and extending longitudinally on the side thereof opposite to the heated member, a, 75

radial flange on said tubular member, another tubular member slidable with respect to the first mentioned tubular member at least in, part between said radial flange and said circular contact member with the body portions of both tubular members substantially contiguous one another to provide a guiding surface for their relative movement, a radial contact flange on the second mentioned tubular member, axial securing means for holding the iirst mentioned tubular member to said circular contact member, the outer surface of the body portion of the outer one of said tubular members being provided with screw threads for attaching the unit to a support.

15. A heating unit for a cigar lighter comprising a circular contact member, a heated member supported therein, a tubular member substantially coaxially secured to said circular contact member and extending longitudinally on the side thereof opposite to the heated member, a radial Iflange on said tubular member, another tubular member slidable with respect to `the first mentioned tubular member at least in part between said radial iiange and said circular contact member with the body portions of both tubular members substantially contiguous one another to provide a guiding surface for their relative movement, a radial contact flange on the second mentioned tubular member, axial securing means for holding the iirst mentioned tubular member to said circular contact member, and a spring within said tubular members tending to move the second mentioned tubular member toward one position of its relative travel with respect to the first mentioned tubular member.

16. A cigar lighter comprising a removable plug, for insertion in a socket having a contact in the base insulated therefrom and another contact constituted by a portion of the socket forward of the base1 said plug having an insulating body portion with a handle on the forward part and a heater unit carried at the rear of said body portion, said heater unit including a contact member for engaging the base contact of the socket and surrounding a heated member which is adapted to be brought to incandescence, a conducting member secured to but insulated from said contact member and extending forwardly thereof, a combined friction means and contact for holding the plug within the socket and for carrying current between the socket and said conducting member and including a metal plunger radially extending through a wall of the insulating plug body, spring means urging said plunger radially outward, a. contact connected with said plunger and another contact slidable with said conducting member and heating unit relatively to the plug body, a spring cooperating between said contacts to maintain them longitudinally spaced apart and the plug body in an open circuit position, said spring being strong enough so that upon release of the plug body when the spring is compressed the spring is capable of sliding the plug body against the action of said friction and spring means, said spring being biased between the contact member and the insulating body portion of said plug for sliding the insulating plug body forwardly to an open circuit position.

17. A cigar lighter comprisingl a removable plug for insertion in a socket having a base contact and another contact forward of the base, said plug having an insulating body portion with a handle aoeoyres at the forward part and a heated unit carried at the rear of said body portion andslidable relatively thereto, a conducting member fixed `to said unit and extending forwardly thereof into the body of said plug, a switch contact part carried by said conducting member for movement within the plug body, a cooperative switch contact part within said plug constituted by a conductor curved transversely of the plug, the plug body being hollow to receive said switch parts. a radial plunger extending through a wall of said plug body, mounted on said transversely curved conductor and biased outwardly whereby said plunger may function as a friction device for retaining the plug within the socket and also as a current conductor between said transversely curved switch part and the forward socket contact, a spring carried by the plug body for normally `maintaining said switch contacts separated, said heated unit being` normally maintained in mechanical and electrical contact with the contact in the base of the socket. said spring being strong enough when compressed by inward movement of the plug body and handle in closing a circuit through the heated member to slide the insulated plug body outwardly against the action of said friction device upon release of said spring to open the heated member circuit. said friction device being suiiicient to normally maintain the plug body in the socket with the heated member substantially contiguous the base contact of the socket when the socket and plug are substantially horizontal.

18. A cigar lighter comprising a socket and removable plug, said socket having a contact in the base insulated therefrom and another contact constituted by a portion of the socket forward of the base, said plug having an insulating body portion with a .handle on the forward part and a heater unit carried at the rear of said body portion, said heater unit including a contact member for engaging the base contact of the socket and surrounding a heated member which is adapted to be brought to incandescence, a longitudinally extending tubular member attached to the contact member and projecting forwardly on the side thereof opposite said heated member, said tubular member being slidable with respect to the body portion of said plug, said tubular member and plug body being provided with means to prevent relative rotation between said plug and contact member whereby on rotation of the plug the contact member may be rotated relatively to the base contact of the socket for cleaning the electrical contact between said contact member and the base contact or the socket, another contact member carried by the plug and adapted to electrically engage the socket and means for frictionally holding the plug within the socket. a spring carried by the plug and adapted to normally maintain a circuit for the heated member open, said spring being compressible on inward movement of the insulating body portion of the plug to close a circuit for said heated member and said spring cooperating with the body portion of said plug and with the base contact of the socket as an abutment whereby on release of the spring when compressed it is strong enough to bodily slide the insulating body portion of the plug against the action of said friction means to an open circuit position for said plug. i

PHILIP Ef ASHTON.

DISCLAIMER 2,060,783.-Phz`lip E. Ashton, Meriden, Conn. CIGAR LIGHTER. Patent dated November 17, 1936. Disclaimer led September 3, 1940, by the assignee, The Ouno Engineering Corporation. P Hereby enters this disclaimer to claims 6, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 18 of said Letters atent.

[Oficial Gazette October 8, 1.940.]

DISCLAIMER 2,060,783.-Philp E. Ashton, Meriden, Conn. CIGAR LIGHTER. Patent dated November 17, 1986. Disclaimer led September 3, 1940, by the assignee, The Ouno Engineering Uorporatz'on.

Patent.

[O icz'al Gazette October 8, 1.940.]

Hereby enters this disclaimer to claims 6, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 18 of Said Letters 

